The Mitchell Memorial Library at Mississippi State University is hosting "Presidential Advance, NYC 9/11", a presentation by Craig Ray, former Special Assistant to the President of the United States, and Deputy Director of Advance for Event Coordination during two Presidential administrations. The program will take place on April 4 at 6 p.m. in the John Grisham Room.
Ray has connections with Mississippi, but will be speaking on his experience gained while he served in senior-level positions for three United States Presidents and for two state governors.
He will give an insider's account into working on a Presidential Advance Team, who is in charge of planning, organizing, and executing Presidential events around the globe. He will also expand on his experiences with 9/11 that transformed America.
Craig Ray is currently the Director of Visit Mississippi, the Tourism Division of the Mississippi Development Authority. Ray works with various organizations and programs in an effort to promote Mississippi's tourism appeal, highlighting the state's culture, history, and recreational activities.
Ray graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Business Administration, and he has one daughter, Emma Claire. Apart from promoting tourism, Ray has also worked in collaboration with the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles, California, to promote a "Mississippi Night".
"Few people have experienced the perspective of history which Craig Ray has. It is a perspective unique to those who have served on Presidential Advance Teams. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to hear him at the MSU library," said Sarah McCullough, Coordinator of Cultural Heritage Projects at Mitchell Memorial Library.
This event is free admission, and open to the public. For additional information, please visit library.msstate.edu.
